Rüegsau: population and statistics
Rüegsau has a population of 3,278 (2025) across 15.1 km², or 217 people per km². It ranks 677 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.4% between 2015 and 2025.
- 3,278 residents
- 15.1 km²
- 217 people/km²
- 748 m
Key points
Among the 335 municipalities in Bern, Rüegsau ranks No. 82 by population.
Share of foreign nationals: 6.8% in Rüegsau, compared with an average of 18.6% in Bern and 27.7% nationally.
Wood heating systems: 39.9% in Rüegsau, compared with an average of 14.7% in Bern and 9.3% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,220 kWh a year here.
Rüegsau in numbers
Where is Rüegsau?
Population of Rüegsau over time
Rüegsau had 3,201 residents in 2015 and 3,278 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,265 |
| 2021 | 3,252 |
| 2022 | 3,255 |
| 2023 | 3,278 |
| 2024 | 3,295 |
| 2025 | 3,278 |
Did you know?
- “Share of foreign nationals”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- “Wood heating systems”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 2,115 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Lützelflüh, 0.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Sumiswald (5,234 residents), 4.9 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,880 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Rüegsau
Value for the municipality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the municipality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Rüegsau | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 26.0% | 22.7% | 20.7% | ranked 194 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Rüegsau | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 1,698 | 599,633 | 4,927,050 | ranked 700 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 41.6% | 29.0% | 23.3% | ranked 243 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 18.6% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,330 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 55.8% | 54.1% | 69.5% | ranked 1,512 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Rüegsau | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 40.9% | 60.7% | 53.5% | ranked 1,355 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 12.5% | 14.3% | 13.7% | ranked 999 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 39.9% | 14.7% | 12.4% | ranked 125 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 1.1% | 5.7% | 1.4% | ranked 960 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 161 | 40,598 | 329,600 | ranked 680 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,286 kW | 999.1 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 733 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 33.9 GWh/year | 9,185 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 594 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 10,336 kWh/inh. | 8,535 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 744 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Rüegsau | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 231 | 80,971 | 728,011 | ranked 665 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 166 | 67,347 | 762,757 | ranked 859 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 50.6 | 62.6 | 64.9 | ranked 1,496 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 65.1% | 64.8% | 65.7% | ranked 950 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 27.1% | 29.2% | 29.0% | ranked 1,069 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Rüegsau | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 1,309 | 677,492 | 5,679,518 | ranked 674 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 399.3 | 629.6 | 362.9 | ranked 776 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 50.1% | 70.3% | 63.6% | ranked 1,348 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 36.9% | 22.5% | 24.2% | ranked 377 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Rüegsau | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 6.8% | 18.6% | 18.9% | ranked 1,705 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Rüegsau
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Rüegsau?
Rüegsau has 3,278 residents (2025), ranking 677 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Rüegsau?
Rüegsau covers 15.1 km², with a density of 217 people per km².
Is the population of Rüegsau growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Rüegsau went from 3,201 to 3,278, a change of +2.4%.
Where is Rüegsau?
Rüegsau is in Bern. It belongs to Verwaltungskreis Emmental (district). Latitude 47.016, longitude 7.683.
Share of foreign nationals: what is the figure for Rüegsau?
In Rüegsau, “Share of foreign nationals” stands at 6.8% (2025), ranking 1,705 of 1,811 municipalities; the national median is 18.9%.
Wood heating systems: what is the figure for Rüegsau?
In Rüegsau, “Wood heating systems” stands at 39.9% (2026), ranking 125 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 12.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Rüegsau?
In Rüegsau, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,220 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Rüegsau?
The nearest to Rüegsau are Lützelflüh (0.9 km), Hasle bei Burgdorf (2.1 km), Trachselwald (4.2 km), Affoltern im Emmental (4.5 km), Rüderswil (4.7 km).